(December 17, 2003)

Recalling the Regulations annexed to the
Hague Convention IV of 1907, 1 the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, 2 and relevant provisions
of customary law, including those codified in Additional Protocol 1 3 to the four Geneva
Conventions, 4

Having
considered the report of the
Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human
Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories 5 and the relevant reports
of the Secretary-General, 6

Considering that
the promotion of respect for the obligations arising from the Charter
of the United Nations and other instruments and rules of international
law is among the basic purposes and principles of the United Nations,

Noting the convening of the meeting
of experts of High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention relative
to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,
at Geneva from 27 to 29 October 1998, at the initiative of the Government
of Switzerland in its capacity as the depositary of the Convention,
concerning problems of application of the Convention in general and,
in particular, in occupied territories,

Noting
also the convening for the first
time, on 15 July 1999, of the Conference of High Contracting Parties
to the Fourth Geneva Convention, as recommended by the General Assembly
in its resolution ES-10/6 of 9 February 1999, on measures to enforce
the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, and to ensure respect thereof in accordance with article
1 common to the four Geneva Conventions, and aware of the statement
adopted by the Conference,

Welcoming the reconvening of the Conference
of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention on 5 December
2001 in Geneva and stressing the importance of the Declaration adopted
by the Conference, and underlining the need for the parties to follow
up the implementation of the Declaration,

Welcoming
and encouraging the initiatives
by States parties to the Convention, both individually and collectively,
according to article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions, aimed
at ensuring respect for the Convention,

Stressing that Israel, the occupying Power,
should comply strictly with its obligations under international law,
including international humanitarian law,

1. Reaffirms that
the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons
in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, 2 is applicable to the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories
occupied by Israel since 1967;

2. Demands that Israel
accept the de jure applicability of the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied
by Israel since 1967, and that it comply scrupulously with the provisions
of the Convention;

3. Calls
upon all High Contracting Parties
to the Convention, in accordance with article 1 common to the four Geneva
Conventions, 4 to continue to exert all efforts to ensure respect for
its provisions by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied
by Israel since 1967;

4. Reiterates the
need for speedy implementation of the relevant recommendations contained
in its resolutions of the tenth emergency special session with regard
to ensuring respect by Israel, the occupying Power, for the provisions
of the Convention;

5. Requests the Secretary-General
to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the
implementation of the present resolution.

72nd plenary meeting
9 December 2003

Notes

1See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and
Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915).